Everything was so quiet Roman almost could have drifted to sleep. With no kind of mental or physical stimulation going on around him the incubus felt drowsy and simply bored. Maybe a refreshing nap before his first late client would have been a good thing. Conserving energy usually was good, right? Of course it was.
The sound of something heavy striking his front door snapped him out of his almost dreamlike state, causing Roman to jump slightly. His brow furrowed as he wondered what made such a sound. Sighing, he set aside his wine and rose sluggishly. It wasn't as if he expected there to be anything of interest to be discovered on his doorstep. Perhaps a child had thrown something? Seemed an odd hour for children to be running about playing, but who could really say?
Roman didn't really know all that much about what children might or might not be doing.
Opening the door to have a body practically fall against him was quite the surprise. A battered and armored body that was still breathing and bleeding. Well he had been worried tonight would be boring – that seemed to no longer be a necessary concern.
"Mary!" He called, and instantly there came the soft thudding of little feet against the hall floor from the back kitchen. A bowed old woman appeared, gasping at the sight as Roman knelt down next to Adrienn, brushing his fingers through the mess of her short flaming hair in an almost soothing way. "Quickly now, Mary. Fetch a doctor, and don't dawdle!" The woman turned and practically fled back down the hall – no doubt to go out the back door, since she'd have had to step over and around them to go out the front.
Roman wasn't much of a healer, and certainly not a doctor, so he wasn't sure if it would be better or worse to move the limp woman from where she had fallen. His hands warmed as he gently brushed them over her face, letting what little healing magic was in him touch her. Maybe it would help with pain once she woke? Or ease swelling and bruising. Someone had struck her quite hard.
Thankfully Mary was spry enough for a little old lady. Roman hastily moved out of the way when the doctor arrived, remaining close and watching curiously. It wasn't every day that a woman almost died on his doorstep. Well, he assumed she almost died. There was a lot of blood and she didn't seem conscious.
It took a long time before the doctor leaned back, looking rather strained. Roman didn't know what all had been done, but Adrienn's armor was stripped, the knife was removed, her wound stitched and dressed, and he could only assume the worst was past. Not that he would know much about that. The doctor suggested they send his maid to fetch a cart to wheel to his home, but also suggested the less she was moved the better.
How bothersome of a hint. Well, it wouldn't do to have her dying on his doorstep, and being generous to her could certainly help his reputation. Who didn't enjoy a good hero story? Between the two of them they were able to carry her up to a free room without jostling her too much. Roman even made sure that it was a room with a bed that currently had fresh, clean linens.
As soon as his patient was resting comfortably the doctor left, assuring Roman that he would send him the bill. He saw him out, feeling more than a little annoyance that this was costing him money. Well, it couldn't be helped he supposed.
Mary appeared shortly afterwards, making a bit of a fuss. He'd gotten blood on his hands and shirt cuffs. Placating her, Roman washed his hands in the kitchen and discarded the stained shirt; it had been a crisp white and was undoubtedly beyond saving. She'd produced a clean shirt almost before he'd even finished removing the soiled one.
"Well this has been a strange evening thus far." Roman mused as he buttoned and tucked in his shirt. "Go home, Mary. You can finish up any chores you didn't get to tomorrow. Plus there will be the blood in the front hall to deal with."
After dismissing her he ventured back to the second floor, entering Adrienn's room to have a seat in the plush chair in the corner. Watching her like this wasn't creepy at all – after all, what if she became distressed or her rest was somehow disturbed? The little bird had obviously weathered quite the storm before crashing against his door!
At least it was interesting.
